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Sony DVD308 Handycam Camcorder Disappoints
I purchased a Sony DCR-DVD308 Camcorder at Best Buy and after several frustrating nights and many calls to Sony tech support and Best Buy's Geek Squad, I gave up and took it back. Compared to our 10-year-old cheap JVC VHS camcorder, the video quality is completely unacceptable. We got pale colors with green blotches on skin in light that should have been fine for any video recording. In addition to the horrific looking skin, the autofocus continually went in and out, resulting in added blurring and jitter that was very distracting. Sound quality wasn't great, either.
In trying to edit and play movies on the finalized DVD, Windows Movie Maker and Windows Media Player both gave codec errors. Best Buy's Geek Squad said this was a known defect in the software system Sony provides for some cameras and told me I needed to find an update on their Website. After failing to find anything that looked suitable on their Web site, I called tech support trying to find out what the problem is, and after lengthy explorations, was told that it was Microsoft's fault, not theirs. Couldn't get help with the codec error.
The manual is also terrible. Not well organized, not helpful, no quick-start guide, and key information missing in some places.
I bought a Panasonic PV-GS320 in its place, but after learning that it doesn't support an external microphone, contrary to what a salesman thought, I'll need to take that back as well.
I'm amazed at how many new camcorders don't have mic jacks for sound input. You have to live with the low-quality internal mic as your only choice. Ouch.